Foran slams Manly NRL match-fixing claims

Kieran Foran says suggestions matches involving his former club Manly may have been fixed were “heartbreaking”.

The troubled former Manly and Parramatta star has also defended his friendship with controversial gambler Eddie Hayson, describing him as a loyal friend and good man.

“To think that people would think that blokes would go out there to throw a game is disgusting,” Foran told News Corp Australia.

“I’ve never been offered to throw a match, not once.

“I know that if I was offered that it just would not happen. It’s not in my DNA, it’s not in my makeup.”

NSW police revealed last month that organised crime squad detectives looking into claims that matches Manly played against South Sydney and Parramatta last season may have been fixed.

Foran left Manly for Parramatta after last season, before quitting the NRL last week as he battles to overcome personal issues which led to an attempt on his own life and time in a Brisbane rehabilitation clinic.

He spoke about those issues and also a report that $75,000 was gambled and lost through his betting account a day after he came out of the Brisbane clinic.

Addressing the match-fixing claims, he said: “I was heartbroken that people would think that proud club, our players, would be involved in that sort of stuff.

“I know every bloke that pulled on that jersey every week went out with the intent to win. To think that people would think that blokes would go out there to throw a game is disgusting.”

Foran was driven to his interview by Hayson, who has described suggestions linking him to the match-fixing allegations as “absolute bull…” which he attributed to a former associate spreading lies about him.

Foran said former brothel owner Hayson had been a good mate for about a decade, who he’d leaned on heavily in the past 3-4 months.

“He is one of my most loyal friends. I can’t speak more highly of the bloke.”

As for Foran’s betting.

“The story that broke about me having gambling sprees of $75,000 couldn’t have been further from the truth. I put $8000 into that TAB account to have a bet,” he said.

“Gambling has been a big part of my life for a long time.”

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